A friend told me that he had been at the Church of Ireland General Synod.

I had forgotten such things even took place. I could no longer name the bishops who sit on the platform, splendid in their purple. I doubt I would recognize more than a handful of the clergy.

It all seems now to be so utterly irrelevant, totally unconnected with the realities of the lives of ordinary people.

There seemed more sincerity in the words of Bruce Springsteen at his concerts two weeks ago than there is …